Hoping to increase Tampa's share of federal stimulus funding for infrastructure upgrades and other needs, city officials are considering hiring a Washington lobbyist. ...more

November 11, 2009

Patrons who show up to any of Pasco County's libraries on Mondays after April 6 will find the doors closed. County commissioners decided last week that a five-day schedule was the way to go to keep services available but costs down. ...more

March 18, 2009

A new estimate shows property values and the taxes they generate are dropping more than previously expected, and that will just widen a potential state budget gap, the Senate's top budget-writer said Thursday. ...more

March 5, 2009

As we are well into the recession brought on by the burst "housing bubble," I have seen blame apportioned to any number of "malevolent" forces including "predatory" lenders, "greedy" developers, "unprincipled" house flippers, George W. Bush and the wicked Dick Cheney, as well as other evil or indifferent classes of fortune seekers. The theme is played to demonize all who thought to profit in housing while portraying those facing foreclosure as victims, duped by sophisticates playing two or more steps ahead of them. ...more

February 20, 2009

City officials plan to spend more than $400,000 to buy adjoining parcels in Drew Park that could be used for housing. ...more

December 10, 2008

(AP) Gulf County Commissioner Billy Traylor says he is supporting Amendment 4 on the Nov. 4 ballot because he prefers the tiny fishing villages and pine tree farms of his rural county to the widespread development of South Florida. ...more

October 19, 2008

The Tampa Port Authority has retained its A2 "investment grade" rating on $120.3 million of outstanding revenue bonds with a stable outlook, a report by Moody's Investors Service released Wednesday states. ...more

October 9, 2008

Hernando County commissioners find themselves in the unenviable position of having to tighten their financial belts and suck it in as they face the hard truth that the money stream has dried up. ...more

August 31, 2008

Vernon Harkey knew his church would have to fork over more money for the fire assessment next year. ...more

August 25, 2008

The city of Tampa's budget theme for the 2009 fiscal year is "Commitment to Progress." Despite shrinking property tax revenue and a sluggish economy, we believe that the city should aggressively repair, maintain and improve its infrastructure. It is also important to maintain high levels of public safety and basic core services that the public depends upon. ...more

August 15, 2008